armitage



May 26, 1931. J. B. ARMITAGE 1,806,603

MACHINE TOOL LUBRICATION Filed April 9, 1924 /5 INVENTOR.

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Patented May 26,v 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IOBEPH B. ARMITAGIL 0F MILWAUKEE, WISNSIN, ASSIGNOR TO k TRECKER CORPORATION, 0F WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN MACHINE TOOL LUBBJCATION Application led April 9,

This invention relates to improvements in the art of machine tool lubrication. More particularly stated, this invention relates to improvements in lubricating systems for machine tool organizations involving two relatively movable units or removable at? tachments.

It is the primary purpose of this invention to provide for the lubrication from a common source ofthe moving parts in a plurality of relativelv movable units such, for example, as may be found in a machine tool organization, including an adjustable or removable attachment or other like devices.

It is a 4further very important purpose of this invention to provide for lubricating from a common source a plurality of units' movably or detachably related toone another and to .provide adjustments for regulating the flow to one or more such units While ensuring that each part of the device will receive its proper proportion of the lubricant. It is contemplated that provision shall be made to regulate the flow of oil to openings which are relatively adjustable to varying relative levels requiring varying pressures on the lubricant for delivery through such openings while ensuring a certain andwsuicient supply to each opening. It is purposed to provide a system ensuring such certainty in its operation as to enable human attentlon to be reduced to a minimum while ensuring satisfactory lubrication or machine tool organization inyolyling detachable units, movable units, or

Other objects of this invention are to provide a common lubricant reservoir for several independently organized operating units, whereby the lubrication of an entire machine assembly of the type described can be cared for and fresh oil added at a single point; to provide novel and improved means for controlling oil circulation throu hv a plurality of branch delivery pipes; an generally to simplify and improve the organi'- zation of lubricating systems of the class described.

In the accompanying drawing, the inven- 1924. Serial No. 705,230.

tio n is shown applied to but one t of machine tool, but it will be understoo to illustrate a typical embodiment of this invention, such as will enable those skilled in theumn 2 upon which the knee 3 is vertically adjusted by means of screw 4. The saddle 5 is adjustable, forwardly and rearwardly,

upon the knee and carries a cross slide or table 6 upon which the work is mounted. The construction thus far described corresponds in general to standard practice.

An attachment, designated in its entirety by reference character 10, is supported upon the face of the upper portion of the column and is connected with the over arm 11. The attachment 10 is bodily removable when it is desired to operate the tools directly from the horizontal spindle 12. The attachment is utilized when a vertical spindle tool drive is desired. When the attachment 10 is in place, the base portion 14 thereof will be relatively stationary with respect tothe column and carries a relativelyv adjustable unit 15 which is! referably in dove-tail connection therewith), in the usual manner, and may be operated vertically by means of a hand wheel 16 connected with a pinion shown in dotted lines at 17 and meshin with airack shown in dotted lines at 18 an located on the face of the stationary unit 14. Any other standard construction may be emloyed. It is desired onl to emphasize the act that the entire attac ment 10 is bodily removable and the unit 15 of such attachment is vertically adjustable with reference to the base portion 14 thereof. This device, therefore, is representative' of many different machine tool constructions in which relatively movable parts are to receive lubrication and can be conveniently lubricated with `certainty from a common source where this invention is employed.

The gearing and bearings shown in the drawing to be located within the column, will be understood to constitute a diagrammatic showing representative of any and all parts in the column requiring lubrication. In Patent #834,063, issued to Kearney & Trecker on October 23, 1906, there is illustrated an oil distributing system which is adapted readily to care for the different bearings and gearings within the machine tool column. The construction therein illustrated may be employed with this invention when desired. I am not concerned with any particular means by which the lubricant is distributed within the individual units to which the oil is to be supplied.

In the dagrammatic showing in the drawing herein, the power shaft is represented at 17 and is adapted to receive power from any exterior source through pulley 18. Motion is transmitted from shaft 17 through gears 19, 2() and 21, to the horizontal spindle 12. Provision may be-made for the lubrication of the gears in the manner disclosed in the patent above referred to. Provision must also be made for the lubrication of the bearin 22 at the rear end of shaft 12. By way o exemplifying the lubrication of parts within the column, I have illustrated a suppl pipe 25 leading to bearing 22 for the lugrication thereof. Surplus lubrication delivered to the bearing will issue therefrom and fall through the interior of the column to a sump or well 26 which serves as a storage reservoir for lubricant and from which the lubricant is pumped to all parts of the machine.

A convenient filling pipe may be provided at 27 for the introduction of lubricant into the reservoir. A pum 28 has an intake extended at 29 to a point below the normal level of lubricant in the reservoir and has a discharge pipe 29 communicating with the main oil lead 30. The pump may conveniently be driven through sprocket 31 from power shaft 17, sprocket 32 upon shaft 33 of the pump, and a chain, indicated in broken lines at 34, and connecting said sprocket. The main oil lead 30 extends upwardly through the column to a T coupling at 35 by means of which it is connected with the branch pipes 36 and 25.

The branch pipe 25 includes a valve casing 37 ported at 38 and provided with a spring-pressed valve 39, seating to close said port against the direction of oil flow through the pipe. The pressure of spring 40 upon valve body 39 will obviouslyY be determinative of the pressure which must exist in the main lead 30 before any oil can be admitted through the casing 37 to the bearing 22.

This pressure will be a constant factor. The degree of such pressure will obviously be determined in the first instance by the character of the spring which is used at 40.

The lubricant delivered to pipe 36 from the main lead 30 is carried upwardly to a valve casing 42 which is preferably exterior to the column for convenience in adjustment. A needle valve 43 is disposed in the casing and controls the outlet port therefrom. Thrugh such port, When the valve is opened, the lubricant may pass through a flexible pipe 45 to the relatively adjustable unit 15 of attachment 10.

As representative of the moving parts which require lubrication in such an attachment, I have illustrated a vertical spindle 47 having bearings at 48 and 49 in the upper and lower. ends of the unit respectively and having also a bearing at 50 in an intermediate portion of the unit. A shaft section, shown in dotted lines at 52, receives power from the horizontal spindle 12 of the machine and transmits such power through bevel gearing 53 and 54 to the vertical spindle 47. The shaft section 52 is journalled in the base element 14 of attachment 10 and is arranged for detachable coupling with shaft 12 when the attachment is in place upon the column. Obviously, all of the several bearings and the gears 53 and 54, described in the preceding paragraph, will in require lubrication and the arrangement is such that oil passing through the flexible pipe 45 will enter bearing 48 and will be discharged from such bearing to fall by gravity onto the gears 53 and 54 and the remaining bearings above described.

From the bottom of the hollow casing, which comprises adjustable unit 15, a return duct 56 opens downwardly and communicates with a pipe 57 pivotally connected upon a horizontal axis to the adjustable unit 15. A second pipe section 58 is telescopically related to pipe section 57 and is pivotally joined upon a horizontal axis at 59 to the column through the wall of which it discharges its contents, whereby oil delivered to the adjustable attachment unit 15 will be returned by gravity to the interior of the column and will fall therethrough to the sump in the base thereof. The point of connection of pipe section 58 to the column is preferably sufliciently lower than the point of connection of pipe section 57 to the adjustable unit 15, so that in any of the possible positions of adjustment of unit 15, a gravity induced flow of oil will occur.

The flexible pipe 45 and the telescopic return pipe are well known devices for the transmission of lubricant between relatively movable parts and may be used interchangeably in the positions indicated. The flexible pipe, however, is preferred as a supply conduit because the lubricant therein may be under acertainamount of back pressure, whereas the flow of lubricant through the return pipewill be com aratively free. It will be noted that the exible pipe'45 and the telescopically related tubemay `be detachably related at either or both of their ends to the partstowhich they are connected. In the drawing; I have lshown at 60 and vpressure so'that, regardless ofthe elevation ofthe movableunit of the attachment, the lubricating system in such unit will always receive oil. Thevamount' Aof oil received by the system of the movable u nit will be determinedby thel valve 43 which regulateshe flow through casing 42. Any surplus will open the valve 39 and pass tol the bearing 22 audaiiy other parts which may be included in the lubricating system of the milling machine per se.

The needle valve 43 performs a dualfunction, in that it not only 'regulates the proportionate iiow of lubricant to the divergent branches and 26 of the oil supply .passage 30, but -it also enables the operator completely shutv oifv the flow through casing 42 when the coupling is disconnected and the attachment is not in use. This single valve is thus adapted to operate not only'as an adjusting valve but also as a shut olf valve.

l From` the foregoing it will be seen that if a ump havin a proper-output is used,each ofp the two lu ricatin systems in the machine tool per se an the vattachment re- "sctively will receive lits proper share of lu r icant upon the manual adjustment of a single valve.. rlfhe valve controlling iow through. delivery pipe 25, is automatic in its action and adjusts itself to varying con- 4 dit-ions of lio-w. It will always provide an initial resistance capable of -forcing lubricant to all points of the other branchof the system and, when said other branch is partially or Wholly shut off, the valve 39 will open to permit the passage of a correspondingly large iow of lubricant. Thus there is an` advantage in having the automatic valve located in the oil lead to the contin of said systems and set to dyield at to the intermittently or temporarily to rable system of the attachment. Pe

I claim:

1. In a machine tool,v the combinationl with two relatively movable lubricatin systems adjustable to varying relative levels whereby their relative resistance to flow of' lubricant is variable, and means for ad-justing their relative postion, of a resiliently yieldable valve device associated with one pressure in excess of those require for dehvery of lubricant to the other of said systems in any relative position thereof and means for reg-A ulating lubricant iiow 'through said other system.

2. In a machine tool, the combination with two relatively movable lubricating systems and means for adjusting their' rela-f tive positions, of a su ply source vcommon to said systems, a resiliently yieldable valve device operatively controlling the admission v A of lubricant to one of said systems and Set to yield at pressures in excess of those re'- quired for the delivery of lubricant to `the other of said systems in any relative position and a pump operative at said source of supply lubricant to said'systems at pressures in excess of those reqbuired for entry into 'the s stem controlled y said valve.

3. n a machine tool, the combinationv with two relatively movable lubricating systems, of a pump operatively connected with both of said systems, lyieldable flow resistin means in one of sai justable mannually Voperable valve in the other of said systems, lsaid valve being adapted to apportion between said systems the output of said pump. 4. The combination with a machine tool Ystructure providing areservoir and a lubrisystems, and an a eating system, and an atachinent removably a associated with said structure, and including a relatively movable unit rovided with a second lubricating system; o a pu'mp provided with aii inlet in communication with said reservoir and with a discharge port,

said port being operatively connectedA with both of said systems, and regulative means adapted to apportion the flow of lubricant through said systems, said regulative means inclul ing a yieldable flow resistingvmembeiin one 4o said systems anti a maually operable valve controlling the flow through the other of said systems. A

` 5. In a machine tool, the combination with two relatively movable lubricatin systems and means for adjusting the relative `position of such systems,'relative resistance to lubricant flow through saids stems being affected by such adjustment o a lubricant supply source common to b'oth systems, a duct connecting both systems to the source, and aiow opposing member mounted in one of said systems to yield resiliently in the direction of the liquid flow therethrough, whereby said member will resist flow through said lsystem until the pressure in said duct exceeds the point at which said member will yield and such pressure being in excess of that required to force lubricant through the other of said systems.

6. The combination with a machine tool structure providing a reservoir and having a. circulatory lubricating system permanently associated therewith, of a'removable attachment including a relatively movable unit provided with a lubricating system, said systems being at different levels, valve means in said first mentioned system yieldable only responsive to a pre-determined pressure in said system, whereby to insure delivery of lubricant to the system of said unit, a branch supply pipe leading from said first mentioned system and provided with connections to the system-of said unit ada ted to permit of the relative movement a oresaid and adapted in operation to render said second system also circulatory, and avalve associated with said pipe and adapted to shut ofi' lubricant flow to said connections and the system of said unit.

7. The combination Iwith a machine tool and a removable attachment embodying relatively movable lubricating systems,` adjustable to varyin heights of a supply source common to bot systems, substantially closed channels operatively arranged for the circulation of lubricant between said source and each system while permitting relative movement between such systems, flow resisting means in the channel leading to the lowermost of said systems having resistance adequate to insure delivery to the other system at all adjustments thereof, and a valve operative to close the u per of said channels, whereby to prevent ow of lubricant therethrough when the attachment is removed and to increase the resistance in said last mentioned channel in excess of that of said means in said first mentioned channel so that the whole fiow from said source may be forced past said means.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a relatively fixed lubricating system, of a vertically adjustable lubricating system, a lubricant supply pipe connected with said relatively: stationary system, a resiliently yieldable valve controlling lubricant flow from sald plpeto said system, and an operative connectlon from said pipe to said relatively adjustable system, the resistance of said valve belng adequate to ensure a pressure in said pipe sufficient to force lubricant to said vertically adjustable system in any osition thereof.

9. In a device of the c ara'cter described, the combination with a machine tool column providing a reservoir and enclosing a pump adapted to draw lubricant from said reservoir, a stand pipe adapted to receive lubricant from the pump and a lubricating s stem connected with said stand pipe, ofy a relatively movable lubricating system, a valve controlled branch pipe in communication with the stand pipe, and flexible and detachable connections operatively affording communication between said branch pipe and said relatively movable system, the valve of said branch pipe being adapted to regulate flow through said connections and to cut off' such flow.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a machine tool column providing a reservoir and enclosing a pump adapted to draw lubricant from said reservoir, a stand pipe adapted to receive lubricant from the pump and a lubricating system connected with said stand pipe, of a relatively movable lubricating system, a valve controlled branch pipe in communlcation with the stand pipe, and flexible and detachable connections operatively affording communication between said branch pipe and said relatively movable system, the valve of said branch pipe being adapted to regulate flow through said connections and to cut off such flow, together with a resiliently yieldable sprin -seated valve .controlling lubricant flow rom said stand pipe to said first mentioned system and adapted to build up pressures in said stand pipe and branch pipe adequate for the delivery of lubricant to said relatively movable system in any position thereof and in any degree of opening of the valve of said branch ipe.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of lubricating systems, one of which offers a comparatively small and substantially constant resistance to the flow of lubricant and the other of which offers aivariable resistance to such flow, of a common sup ly pipe for said systems, a resiliently yieldable spring-seated valve controlling lubricant delivery from said supply pipe to the system having a comparatively low resistance, said valve being adapted to be opened by the pressure of lubricant in said supply pipe, and a manually adjustable control valve regulatingy lubricant delivery from said supply pipe to said system offering variable resistance.

12. In a device of the character described,

.the combination with a supply pipe, of a pair of branch pipes in communication therewith, a spring-seated pressure operated valve controlling delivery to one of said pipes, Ya manually operable valve regulating delivery to the other of said pipes, a pump adapted-to force lubricant through said supply pipe at pressures in excess of that required to operate said spring-seated valve, a lubricating system of relatively fixed resistance adapted to receive lubricant through said spring-seated valve, and a lubricating ,and adapte lerable conduit connections ment, sai

adapted to force lubricant t ough sai y supply ipe at pressures iny excess of that uire to operate said sprin -seated valve, a ubricating s stem of relatively fixed resistance adap to receive lubricant through said s rin -seated valve, a lubricating system o variable resistance adapted to receive lubricantthrough said manually operable valve, and a reservoir operatively associated with said pump and arranged to receive by gravity the lubricant return from said sys-,

tems. Y

14. In a device of the character described, the combinationv with a machine tool column having a reservoir in its base and enclosing parts requiring lubrication, of a pump operatively arranged/to draw lubricant from said reservoir, a supply pipe extending upwardly from said pump, a relatively fixed lubricating stem connected with said plpe Ayto deliver lubricant to said arts, a spring-seated valve controlling lugricant flow from said ipe to saidsystem, an attachment detacha ly connected with said column and including parts to be lubricated, means for ad'usting such parts with reference to said co umn, a lubricating system arranged for the operative delivery of lubricant to said parts in said attachment, a branch pipe connected with said su ply i a manualliyl7 operable lvalve contro ng de ivery throug said branch ipe, and sevtween said branch pi e and the system of said attachvalve being adapted to regulate ow through said connections and to cut of such ow when said connections are severed -and the attachment is detached, and said 'connections bein adapted for the operative transmission of ubricant in a plurality of positions of adjustment of the parts to be lubricated.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with a air of lubricating systems, one of which o ers a substantially constant resistance to the iow of lubrication and the other of which oers a variable resistance to such flow, of a common supply pipe operatively connected with said systems, and a resilientlyieldable s ringseated valve controlling ubricant delivery from the supply pipe to the system havin a substantial constant resistance, said valve beingr a alpted to open responsive to pressures in sai supply pipe exceeding the maximum pressure required to overcome the maximum resistance to flow in the system havin variable resistance.

16. n a device of tli'e character described, the combination withia air of lubricating systems, one of which oers a substantially constant resistance to the flow of lubricant and the other of which offers/a variable resistance to such ow, of a common supply pipe operatively connected with said systems, and a resiliently-yieldable ringseated valve controlling lubricant de 'very from the suply pipe to the system ha a substanti constant resistance, sai valvebeing a apted to open responsive to pressure in said supply pi exceedingthe maximum pressure requir to overcome the maximum resistance to llow in the system having variable resistance together with an oil pump arranged for delivery of lubricant through said supply pipe and adapted to supply thereto lu ncant under pressure in excess of said maximum.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of wholly separable lubricating stems, of a common supply pipe operative y connected with each of said systems, its connection with one of said systems bein detachable, Aan vadjustable valve control g lubricant delivery from said supply pipe to the last mentioned tem and adapted wholly to cut of said elivery when said connections are detached and a self-seating valve controlling lubricant delivery to the other of said systems and "adapted to open under pressures in excess of those required for the delivery of lubricant through said adjustable valve` when the latter valve is open.

18. The combinationwith a machine tool structure providing a reservoir and a lubricating m, of an attachment removably associate with said structure and having a lubricating stem, a pum v in communication with sai reservoir anA with a discharge port, said port being operativel connected with both of said systems, an regulative means including a ressure-o'perated automaticallv-closing va ve in one of said systems an an adjustable valve in the other of said systems for apportioning the flow of vlubricant through said systems, whereby both systems can be lubricated from a single source by asingle pump and the entire output of the ump may be passed through the system of t e machine tool proper by manipulating/a single valve upon removal of the attachment. i

19. The combination with a machine tool structure providing a reservoir and a lubricatin system, of an attachment removably associated withY said structure and having a lubricating'system, a pump in communication with said reservoir and with a discharge port, said port being operatively connected las' with both of said systems, and regulative means including a pressure-operated automatically-closing valve in one of said systems and an adjustable valve in the other of said systems for apportioning the ow of lubricant through said systems, whereby both systems can be lubricated from a single source by a single pump, the operative connections between said port and `a system controlled by said adjustable valve including detachable connections and said valve being adapted wholly to prevent lubricant delivery to said connections, whereby loss of lubricant will be prevented when said connections are detached.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination with two machine tool units at differing levels, each provided with a circulatory lubricating system, one of said units being removable from the other, of a single source adapted to supply lubricant to both of said systems, and automatic regulative valve means in one of said systems yieldable only at pre-determined pressures, whereb to insure delivery of lubricant to the other o said systems.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination with two machine tool units having circulatory systems at differing levels of a source of lubricant supply connected with said systems and having gravity return connections therwith, means for forcing lubricant to flow from said source to the respective systems, flow resistant means for preventing the lower unit from taking all of the lubricant whenrthe system of the higher unit is open, means of cutting o flow to the upper of said systems and means for removably connecting said units, whereby the unit containing sald last mentioned system is detachable.

22. In a device of the character described, the combination with vrelatively separable vmachine tool units including circulatory systems relatively movable to various differering levels, of a source of lubricant supply for said systems, flexible connections ibetween said source and one of said systems, a closing valve adapted to cut off lubricant delivery into said last mentioned system, and an automatic regulating means in the other of said systems adapted to insure delivery of lubricant through said flexible connections when said closing valve is open.

23. In a device of the character described, the combination with machine tool units including circulatory lubricating systems relatively movable at a plurality of differing levels, of a common source of supply for said systems, flexible connections to one of said systems permitting relative movement thereof with reference to said source and the other of said systems, and means in the lower of said systems adapted to insure delivery of lubricant to the upper of said systeme irrespective of varying diierences in leve 24. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of machine tool units, including a plurality of circulatory lubricating systems relatively moveable at various relative levels, of a common source of supply for said systems, regulating valve means in the lowermost of said systems adapted to yield only at lubricant pressures adequate to insure delivery to the uppermost of said systems when said uppermost system is accepting lubricant from said source, and means for adjusting flow of lubricant to the upper of said systems, whereby wholly or partially to overcome said regulating valve means.

25. In a milling machine having a support, a table movable thereon and a machine spindle horizontally rotatable at a level above said table and axially transverse4 to the path of movement of said table, the combination of an attachment removably supported from said support and including an attachment spindle rotatable at a level above said table and axially transverse to the path of movement of said table, trans mission mechanism for said spindles including a portion associated with said sup'- port and a portion removable with said at tachment, a lubricating system for said transmission lmechanism mcluding ducts associated with said sup ort and passages associated with said attac ent, a lubricant reservoir associated with said sup ort, pump means adapted. to supply lubricant from said reservoir to one o said ducts, a channel adapted to supply lubricant from the last mentioned duct to one of said passages when said attachment is supported from said support, said channel being separable to permit attachment removal, and valve means associated with said support and operable to shut olf lubricant flow to said channel when said attachment is removed and said channel is separated.

26. In a milling machine having a support, a table movable thereon and a machine spindle horizontally rotatable at a level above said table and axially transverse to the path of movement of said table, the combination of an attachment removably supported from said support and including an attachment spindle rotatable at a level above said table and axially transverse to the path of movement of said table, transmission mechanism for said; spindles including a portion associated with said support and a portion removable with said attachment, a lubricating system for said transmission mechanism including ducts associated with said sup ort and passages associated with said attac ent, a lubricant reservoir associated with said support, pump means adapted to continuously supply lubricant from said reservoir to one of said ducts at an excess of pressure over that required for lubrication of the transmission portion associated with said support, a channel adapted toutk supply lubricant from the last mentioned duct to one of said passages when said attachment is supported from said support, another channel adapted to return lubricant from said attachment for return to said reservoir when said attachment is supported from said support, each of said channels being separable to permit attachment removal, and valve means associated with said support and operable to shut olf lubricant fiow to the first mentioned of said channels whereby said attachment may be removed and said rst mentioned channel separated while conserving the fluid against waste in spite of said excess pressure.

` JOSEPH B. ARMITAGE. 

